Modular storage system

ABSTRACT

A movable storage assembly includes at least one storage unit defined by a frame structure and having a roller member secured to each of the upper corners of the frame structure. A pair of roller tracks are mounted above the at least one storage unit and aligned to structurally receive the roller members secured to the frame structure. The storage unit is suspended in an upright stored position and is movable along the roller tracks from a stored position to an accessible position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a roll-out storage assemblyhaving the storage unit mounted upon an overhanging track assembly.Specifically, the present invention is a roll-out storage assemblycontaining one or more storage units which are aligned in a stacked andstored condition with each of the storage units mounted to a pair oftrack rollers to permit movement of the storage unit from a storedposition to an accessible position to provide access to the storageunit.

[0002] It has been suggested that storage systems comprised of movablestorage sections be utilized to provide for the storage of variousarticles. Such storage systems generally utilize rows of storage shelvessupported upon a common base and movable upon track mechanisms. Thelength of the parallel tracks is equal to the total width dimension ofthe various storage units or segments plus the width of an accessaisle-way by which a user may selectively position the segmented unitsto provide access to the desired storage unit. See for example, U.S.Pat. No. 5,439,281 for one such storage structure. Although thesestorage structures attempt to provide a compact storage system, suchstructures require the utilization of tracks and wheels which interfaceto accomplish the movement of the storage units relative to one-another.Moreover, such tracks must be positioned and aligned in a level planarconfiguration to provide support for the storage units. Accordingly, theplacement and installation of such systems upon uneven floors orsurfaces require leveling structures and expensive installation costs inmounting such storage systems for use. Also, the requirement that thestorage system must provide for an aisle-way for access to a specificstorage shelf reduces the amount of shelving area available for storagewithin the storage area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention toprovide a roll-out modular storage assembly and system having aplurality of storage units which provide maximum storage of materialswithin a specified storage area while eliminating the need for aisle orpassageway spacing between the storage units to permit access to theindividual storage units.

[0004] In accordance with the present invention, the roll-out storageassembly and system is designed to provide a maximum of storage shelfspace within a defined storage area. The roll-out storage assembly iscomprised, preferably, of a plurality of shelving units that are eachsuspended from roller tracks which are mounted above each individualshelving unit. The roller tracks are structurally arranged to be engagedby rollers that are mounted to the upper portion or frame extensions ofeach storage unit and which permit the shelving unit to move outwardlyfrom the storage area to permit access to the shelving unit. Preferably,the storage assembly is comprised of two or more storage units that aremounted and aligned to roll inwardly and outwardly upon the rollertracks. However, it is within the scope of the present invention that asingle storage unit may be suspended and mounted within a confined spaceand movable inwardly into and outwardly out from the confined space toprovide, respectively, storage and access to the storage unit.

[0005] The bottom surfaces of the storage units include casters mountedalong the corners and sides thereof to supplement and to provideadditional support for the load mounted onto the shelves of the storageunit. Although, it is preferred that the bulk of the weight of thestored materials on the storage unit be supported by the engagement ofthe rollers in the roller track of the overhead track assembly, theengagement of the casters to the floor supplements and providesadditional support for the loaded storage unit. This permits theroll-out storage assembly system in accordance with the presentinvention to provide maximum storage within a defined storage area byeliminating the need for aisle-ways or passageways to the units topermit placing and removing stored articles from the shelving units.

[0006] In a further embodiment of the present invention, a reversibleelectric motor is mounted between the parallel roller tracks andoperatively connected through a rail system with a slide member. Theslide member is coupled to the drive chain, which is driven by thereversible electric motor. The slide member is attached to the storageunit. Upon energization of the electric motor, the chain is driven tomove the slide member and coupled storage unit is moved outwardly alongthe roller track, as desired. This outward movement positions theshelving unit in a position so that the storage shelves are exposed topermit access to the shelves. This movable feature of the presentinvention is particularly advantageous for elderly users or those havinglimited physical strength in selectively moving a predetermined storageunit outwardly to permit access to the material stored on the shelves ofthe storage unit.

[0007] The present invention consists of certain novel features andstructural details hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims, it being understood that various changes in the details may bemade without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the presentinvention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferredembodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered inconnection with the following description, the invention, itsconstruction and operation, and many of its advantages will be readilyunderstood and appreciated.

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the roll-out storage assembly inaccordance with the present invention illustrating the positioning ofone of the storage units to permit access thereto;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shelving unit and the rollertracks in accordance with the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a front view of the storage assembly illustrating thealignment of the shelving units which comprise the roll-out storageassembly in accordance with the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the mounting of theroller members to the frame of the shelving unit in accordance with thepresent invention;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a top plan view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4 inaccordance with the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 6 is a view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 4 in accordancewith the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 7 is a side view of one of the shelving units resting in thestored position in accordance with the present invention; and

[0016]FIG. 8 is a side view showing the movement of a shelving unit fromthe stored position to an extended position wherein access is providedto the shelves of the storage unit in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals have beenused throughout the several views to designate the same or similarparts, in FIG. 1 a roll-out storage assembly 10 in accordance with thepresent invention is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 3, the roll-outstorage assembly 10 is comprised of a plurality of storage shelvingunits, with the storage shelving units being numbered as 12, 14, 16 and18. Specifically in FIG. 1, there is shown a roll-out storage assemblywherein three storage shelving units 12, 14 and 16 are illustrated, withshelving units 12 and 14 in the stored position and shelving unit 16 inthe extended exposed position. As shown, a user may readily have accessto the shelves 24 of the shelving unit 16.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the storage shelving unit 12, 14, 16 or 18 iscomprised of a plurality of corner frame members 20 and intermediateframe members 22 extending upwardly from a base shelf member 23.Preferably, the corner and intermediate frame members 20 and 22 containa plurality of openings 25 therein which permit the user to adjust thedistance or gap between each of the mounted shelves 24 and the lowerbase shelf member 23, as desired. Located and secured to the upper endsof each of the corner frame members 20 and the intermediate framemembers 22 are U-shaped extension members 26. The U-shaped extensionmembers 26 are structurally arranged to be adjustably mounted to theupper ends of the corner frame members 20 and the intermediate framemembers 22 to precisely suspend the storage unit upright with theminimal weight upon the casters 31. The U-shaped member 26 includes anopening 27 therein, as shown in FIGS. 4-6, which is structurallyarranged to receive a roller shaft member 28 onto which is mounted arotatable roller member 29.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the roll-out storage lower surface 11 of thestorage unit 12 includes a plurality of rubber casters 31 mountedthereon which supplement and provide additional support for the loadedroll-out storage unit, as desired. However, it is preferred in thepresent invention that the bulk of the weight of the goods stored on theroll-out storage units are supported by the engagement of the rollermembers 29 on the roller track 30, as shown in FIGS. 3-4 and 7-8, aswill hereinafter be described.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the roll-out storage assembly 10 includesstorage shelf units 12, 14 and 16. The storage shelf unit 16 ispositioned outwardly from the stored position of shelf units 14 and 16.The shelf unit 16 is in the extended position to permit access to theshelving unit 16. The roller tracks 30 are preferably mounted to theceiling or suspended from the ceiling in such a manner to bestructurally engaged by adjacent storage shelving units, as shown inFIG. 3 and enlarged FIG. 4. The roller track 30 (FIGS. 2 and 4) issubstantially a Y-shaped member with each of the diverging lowerportions 34 structurally arranged to provide an U-shaped channel 35which receive and engage roller members 29 located on adjacent sides ofadjacent storage shelving units, as shown in FIG. 3. However, the rollertrack structurally arranged to receive the roller members 29 on theoutside of the aligned units, is a single U-shaped channel.

[0021] In FIG. 7, the roll-out storage unit 16 is positioned in thestored position, as represented in FIG. 3. If access is desired to thestorage shelving unit 16, the storage shelving unit 16 is moved to theoutward, extended position, as shown in FIG. 8. This permits the user ofthe storage assembly to have access to all shelves of the storageassembly, without the need of utilizing an aisle or passageway betweenadjacent storage shelving units. Accordingly, the present inventionprovides for maximum storage of articles within a predetermined sizedarea by eliminating the necessity of requiring space for an aisle orpassageway to provide access between adjacent positioned storageshelving units.

[0022] It is within the scope of the present invention that the actualsize and number of shelves per unit may vary depending upon particularspace requirements and the type of goods to be stored. For purposes ofillustrating the attainment of maximum storage within a given area, ifit is assumed that the present invention envisions a four-unit storageshelving system positioned in a storage space area 9 feet wide, 7 feetlong, or deep, and 7 feet high having a total storage area of 441 cubicfeet.

[0023] The present invention provides a total storage are ofapproximately 378 cubic feet. This is calculated by providing a distanceof 2.5 inches between each of the aligned storage shelving units andbetween the end units and the walls of the area. Thus, the non-usedspace is approximately 63 cubic feet of the storage system. If the widthof each shelf is 7 feet with a depth of 2 feet, each module or storageunit provides 56 square feet of shelf space while providing a total areaof 94.5 cubic feet. This is calculated by having a depth of 7 feet, awidth of 2 feet and a height of 7 feet, less the approximately 3 inchesat the bottom of the unit where the casters are not mounted. Whencompared to a system that requires an aisle-way or passageway to permitaccess to the stored storage units, the present invention providesmaximum storage within a particular storage area by limiting the needfor aisles or passageways to the units while permitting the placement orremoval of storage objects from each of the shelving units.

[0024] As shown in the present invention, each of the roller tracks 30would be 14 feet long to permit selective roll-out of each storageshelving unit moved from the stored position to the outward position topermit access by the user. Also, as shown in FIG. 7, it is possible thatone side of the storage shelving unit 16 may include cross brace members32 which reinforce and provide structural integrity to the storage unit.In a further embodiment of the present invention, in FIGS. 7 and 8 areversible electric motor 36 is provided and is positioned between theparallel mounted roller tracks 30. The motor 36 is operatively connectedthrough a rail system 38, drive chain 40 and slide member 39 to theshelving unit 12. The slide member 39 is coupled to the drive chain 40driven by gear member 42 of the reversible electric motor 36. The slidemember is engaged with the storage shelving unit 16 and when the motoris engaged, the drive chain 40 is moved and the associated slide member39 and the storage unit 16 are also moved from the inward storedposition (FIG. 7) to the outward position (FIG. 8). This outwardmovement positions the shelving unit 16 in a position where the storageshelves are exposed to permit access to them, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8.This movable feature is particularly advantageous for elderly users orfor those having limited physical strength in selectively moving one ormore of the storage units outwardly to permit access to the shelves ofthe storage unit. When the user has completed loading or unloading ofmaterials or items from the unit 16, the reversible electric motor isengaged and the drive chain is reversed and the storage unit is movedfrom the outward position (FIG. 8) to the inward stored position, asshown in FIG. 7.

I claim:
 1. A storage assembly, including in combination: at least onestorage unit having a frame structure which includes corner framemembers each having an upper end and a lower end thereof, with saidcorner frame members defining sides of said at least one storage unit; aroller member secured to each of said upper ends of said corner framemembers of said frame structure; and at least a pair of roller tracksmounted above said at least one storage unit and aligned to structurallyreceive said roller members secured to said upper ends of said cornerframe members of said storage unit and to suspend said at least onestorage unit in an upright position, with said at least one storage unitbeing movable along said roller tracks from a stored position to anaccessible position.
 2. The storage assembly in accordance with claim 1,wherein said at least one storage unit includes shelf members engageablewith said corner frame members to provide shelf storage for said atleast one storage unit.
 3. The storage assembly in accordance with claim1, wherein said frame structure of said at least one storage unitincludes intermediate frame members each having an upper end thereofmounted on opposite sides of said at least one storage unit intermediatesaid corner frame members.
 4. The storage assembly in accordance withclaim 3, wherein each of said upper ends of said intermediate framemembers include a roller member secured thereto, with each of saidroller members being structurally arranged to cooperate with said rollertracks to facilitate suspension of said at least one storage unit in anupright position.
 5. The movable storage assembly in accordance withclaim 3, wherein said at least one storage unit includes twointermediate frame members.
 6. The storage assembly in accordance withclaim 1, wherein said at least one storage unit includes a base shelfmember mounted to said corner frame members at said lower end thereof,with said base shelf member having a lower surface.
 7. The storageassembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein said base shelf memberincludes casters mounted to said lower surface at each corner thereof.8. The storage assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said framestructure further includes cross-brace members extending between atleast two corner frame members to provide support for said at least onestorage unit.
 9. The storage assembly in accordance with claim 1,further including a reversible electric motor means operativelyconnected to a slide member associated with a rail member to drive thesame, with said motor means, said slide member and said rail memberpositioned between said pair of roller tracks and wherein said slidemember is coupled to said at least one storage unit, such that upon theenergization of said motor means, said slide member is moved to therebymove said storage unit between said stored position and said accessibleposition.
 10. The storage assembly in accordance with claim 1, whereinsaid roller tracks positioned between adjacent aligned storage units areY-shaped with the diverging portion U-shaped and structurally arrangedto receive said roller members.
 11. A storage assembly, including incombination: at least two storage units positioned adjacent to oneanother, each having a frame structure which includes corner framemembers having an upper end and a lower end thereof, with said cornerframe members defining sides for said storage unit; roller memberssecured to each of said upper ends of said corner frame members of saidframe structure of said storage units; and at least two pair of rollertracks mounted above each of said storage units and aligned tostructurally receive said roller members secured to said upper ends ofsaid corner frame members of said frame structure of each of saidstorage unit and to suspend each of said storage unit in an uprightstored position, with said at least one storage unit being movable alongsaid roller tracks from said stored position to an outward accessibleposition.
 12. The storage assembly in accordance with claim 11, whereinsaid at least one storage unit includes adjustable shelf membersengageable with said corner frame members.
 13. The storage assembly inaccordance with claim 11, wherein said frame structure of said at leastone storage unit includes intermediate frame members each having anupper end thereof mounted on opposite sides of said at least one storageunit intermediate said corner frame members.
 14. The storage assembly inaccordance with claim 13, wherein each of said upper end of saidintermediate frame members include a roller member secured thereto whichare structurally arranged to cooperate with said roller tracks tosuspend said at least one storage unit in an upright position.
 15. Thestorage assembly in accordance with claim 13, wherein said at least onestorage unit includes two intermediate frame members.
 16. The storageassembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein said at least one storageunit includes a base shelf member mounted to said corner frame membersat said lower end thereof.
 17. The storage assembly in accordance withclaim 16, wherein said base shelf member includes a caster membermounted at each corner thereof.
 18. The storage assembly in accordancewith claim 11, wherein said roller tracks positioned between adjacentaligned storage units are Y-shaped with the diverging portion U-shapedand structurally arranged to receive said roller members.
 19. Thestorage assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein the gap betweenadjacent positioned storage units is between about 2 to 6 inches. 20.The storage assembly in accordance with claim 11, further including areversible electric motor means operatively connected to a slide memberassociated with a rail member to drive the same, with said motor means,said slide member and said rail member positioned between a pair ofroller tracks, and wherein said slide member is coupled to said at leastone of said storage unit, such that upon the energization of said motormeans, said slide member is moved to thereby move said storage unitbetween said stored position and said accessible position.